Marc Aryan

Marc Aryan
Henri Markarian, better known as Marc Aryan (14 November 1926 in Valence, France – 30 November 1985 in Ohain, Belgium), was a French-Belgian singer, songwriter, and record producer of Armenian descent born as a French citizen, who also acquired Belgian citizenship after a long residency in the country.
Beginnings
Marc Aryan was born to Lebanese Armenian parents who came from Malatya, Turkey. He studied music and piano in Valence, and started writing his own songs. In 1957, he left Valence to Paris for better musical opportunities. In 1963, he went to Belgium where one of his sisters ran a nightclub in Zeebrugge on the coast. He tried his songs on the dance routines at the club gaining great favor. Marc Aryan decided to settle permanently in Belgium, first in Waterloo and eventually to Ohain.
Career
Henri Markarian initially released materials under the personal label Markal. He then changed the name of the label to Malatya where his parents came from. He recorded several songs for an album released in Brussels. With initial success, Henri Markarian decided to adopt the stage name Marc Aryan (derived from pronunciation of his Armenian family name Markarian).
His singles became very popular in Belgian francophone market and in France. His single "Katy" that was released in 1964–1965, topped both Wallonia and Flanders Singles Charts becoming one of the top selling singles for 1965. He made sold-out concerts throughout Belgium. Other successful singles by him included "Volage Volage" (20 weeks in the Belgian Top 10), "Un Petit Slow" (again a #1 hit), "Angelina", "Giorgina", "Parce que je t'aime", "Si j'etais sur..", "Quand je te prends dans mes bras", "Qu'un peu d'amour", "Mon petit navire", "La chanson du viel aveugle" and "Tu es numéro 1 au hit-parade de mon cœur".
International success
After the successful years 1964 and 1965 locally, the years 1966 and 1969 proved to be his most prosperous years internationally. Marc Aryan enjoyed great popularity in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, where he also sang some songs in Armenian language and in Eastern Europe and Latin America. He had some commercial success in Quebec, Canada's predominantly francophone province.
Marc Aryan visited Turkey where his parents originated from. His success was huge after his release of the oriental-themed "Istanbul", one of his best known hits that became an instant classic in Turkey. He also released a number of re-arrangements of his biggest hits in Turkish language, following the example of famous European artists who had done the same like Salvatore Adamo, Johnny Hallyday, Sacha Distel, Enrico Macias and Peppino di Capri. Turkish language versions in his album Istanbul'da include 9 songs including "Yalancısın", "Dünya Dönüyor", "Kalbin Yok Mu?" and others. The Turkish lyrics were mostly written by Fecri Ebcioğlu.
In 1968, he also visited the Soviet Union where he sang for tens of thousands of fans in Moscow and other cities filling stadiums. Marc Aryan also eventually visited his homeland Armenia for very successful concert tour insisting to sing some songs in Armenian including the famous "Yerevan" dedicated to the Armenian capital.
Markal Record Label
Marc Aryan founded his own record label named Markal where he released many of his songs. He also founded a music publishing house.
Katy Studios and production work
Upon his return in 1969, he established a music studio he named Katy after his successful single "Katy". Many renowned artists recorded albums in Marc Aryan's studios including Julio Iglesias, Salvatore Adamo, Michel Fugain, Frédéric François, Will Tura, Danyel Gérard, Patrick Hernandez, Toots Thielemans.
Anthony Quinn recorded his successful hit "I Love You" in Marc Aryan's studio. Marvin Gaye recorded his album Midnight Love in Katy Studios in 1981. The album went on to earn Gaye two Grammy Awards.
Personal life
Born in an ethnic Armenian family in 1926, he was the third of seven siblings. He had great affinity for languages, and was able to speak several language (up to 9). His love for music started very early to the detriment of school. He initially helped with his father's business in selling Middle Eastern food. He fell very ill while he was just 18, and left the father's business and later on, decided to concentrate on music, particularly finding success after moving to Belgium.
Marc Aryan died in 1985 in Belgium from a cardiac arrest. He was just 59. He had written more than 200 songs. There had been a confusion whether he was born in 1935 instead, but the tombstone confirms the year of birth as 1926.
His best songs were released in a double CD collection in 1974 again hitting the Top 10 of sales.
In 1997, a tribute concert entitled "Hommage à Marc Aryan" was held in Schaerbeek, in which his most well-known songs were interpreted by contemporary singers including Marka, Perry Rose, Dominique A, Jean-Luc of Sttellla, Be Plouvier, Zop Hophop and actor Benoit Poelvoorde.
Discography
(in alphabetical order)
French language
Adieu joli Luxembourg
Adieu mon bel amour
Agnes
Allo c'est moi
Amène ta semaine
Angelina
Arrête, arrête ton cinéma
Au fond de tes yeux
Ballade
Bête à manger du foin
Bien sûr, bien sûr
Bonjour mon village, bonjour mon pays
C'est bien dommage
C'est impossible
C'est la vie
C'est le temps
Car tu l'aimes
Difficile à vivre
Gino
Giorgina
Grosses lunettes sur un petit bout de nez
Il y a des jours
Istanbul
J'aime (les petites femmes)
J'aimerais sortir un soir avec vous
J'aimerais viellir avec toi
Jamais je ne dirai
Je ne puis donner d'avantage
Je t'invite
Katy
L'amour est une prison
La chanson du viel aveugle
La lettre
La roue de secours
La seule chose que tu n'as pas ratée
La sirène
Le clocher
Le coeur au chomage
Le livre de ma vie
Le nombril du monde
Le téléphone
Les melons
Les violons d'Albi
Ma loulou
Ma petite chanson
Ma vie recommence avec toi
Ma vie sans toi
Marie Laurence
Mes blanches montagnes
Mon petit navire
Mon village
Numéro 1 au hit-parade
Nous
Parce que je t'aime
Pas comme les autres
Qu'un peu d'amour
Quand je te prends dans mes bras
Que c'est bête la vie
Sans amour, on n'est rien du tout
Sans toi
Si
Si demain
Si j'avais su
Si j'étais le fils d'un roi
Si j'etais sur
Si un jour
Toi je te garde
Toi ma bohème
Tous ces voiliers
Toute ma vie (tu es toute ma vie)
Tu as beau me dire
Tu dis chéri à tout le monde
Tu es no. 1 au hit-parade de mon cœur
Tu es une petite fille
Tu ne sais pas
Un amour
Un jour
Un paradis
Un petit mari
Un petit slow
Un peu naif
Volage Volage
Armenian language
Yerevan
Turkish language
(French original title in parentheses)
Dünya dönüyor [Atlı karınca] - (Volage Volage)
Moda yolu - (Ma Loulou)
Doğum günün kutlu olsun - (Feliz Cumpleanos)
Mersi - (Volage Volage)
Ayşe, Fatma, Semra [Eski Aşıklar]
Kalbin yok mu?
Yalancısın - (Si j'etais sur..)
Nasıl evlenirsin bu lisanla (Giorgina)
Kimdir bu sevgili (Un Petit Slow)
Dinle yavrucuğum (Tu es une petite fille)
Collection albums
1994: 41 succès inoubliables (Ariane/AMC Records)
1998: L'essentiels 21 succès (Ariane/AMC Records)
References
External links
The site Didierpassion
French emigrants to Belgium
20th-century Belgian male singers
20th-century Belgian singers
20th-century Armenian male singers
People from Valence, Drôme
French people of Armenian descent
1926 births
1985 deaths
20th-century French male singers